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Article 2.
Section 2.1 Section 2.2
Article 3.
Section 3.1 Section 3.2
Article 4.
Section 4.1: Membership ________________________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.2 Election of Central Committee ________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.3 Equal Division _____________________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.4: Election of State Party Officers _________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.5 Election of National Committee Members _______________________________________________ 2 Section 4.6 Vacancies _________________________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.7 Central Committee Meetings __________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.8 Quorum __________________________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.9 Duties of the Central Committee _______________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.10 Removal from Central Committee ______________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.11 Chair of the Central Committee ________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.12 Vice Chairs of Central Committee ______________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.13 Secretary of Central Committee________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.14 Treasurer of the Central Committee ____________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.15 Dues _____________________________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.16 Amendments to Party Plan ___________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.17 Standing Committee on Resolutions ____________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.18 State Central Committee Elections in the Absence of a State Convention ________________________ 2 Section 4.19 Central Committee Caucuses ___________________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.20 Constituency Group Organizations ______________________________________________________ 2 Section 4.21 Outreach Committee _________________________________________________________________ 2
Article 5.
Section 5.1 Section 5.2 Section 5.3 Section 5.4 Section 5.5 Section 5.6 Section 5.7
Article 6.
Section 6.1 Section 6.2 Section 6.3 Section 6.4 2
Section 6.5 Section 6.6 Section 6.7 Section 6.8 Section 6.9 Section 6.10 Section 6.11 Section 6.12 Section 6.13 Section 6.14
Vacancies _________________________________________________________________________ 3 Duties ____________________________________________________________________________ 3 Removal from District Committee______________________________________________________ 3 Nomination of Candidates for House of Representatives ____________________________________ 3 Oversight Duties ___________________________________________________________________ 3 New County and City Committee Elections ______________________________________________ 3 Supervisory Authority _______________________________________________________________ 3 Appeals __________________________________________________________________________ 3 District Committees and Reapportionment _______________________________________________ 3 Special Elections - House of Representatives _____________________________________________ 3
Article 7.
Section 7.1 Section 7.2 Section 7.3 Section 7.4 Section 7.5 Section 7.6
Democratic Constitutional Officer and General ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Nominating Committees __________________________________________________________________ 3
Definition of Committees ____________________________________________________________ 3 Nominating Process _________________________________________________________________ 3 Composition of Nominating Committees ________________________________________________ 3 Voting ___________________________________________________________________________ 3 Officers and Organization ____________________________________________________________ 3 Appeals __________________________________________________________________________ 3
Article 8.
Section 8.1 Section 8.2 Section 8.3 Section 8.4 Section 8.5 Section 8.6 Section 8.7 Section 8.8 Section 8.9 Section 8.10 Section 8.11 Section 8.12 Section 8.13 Section 8.14 Section 8.15 Section 8.16
Article 9.
Section 9.1 Section 9.2 Section 9.3 Section 9.4 Section 9.5 Section 9.6
Article 10.
Section 10.1 Section 10.2 Section 10.3 Section 10.4 Section 10.5 Section 10.6 Section 10.7
Section 10.8 Party Support ______________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 10.9 Candidate Support __________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 10.10 Public Information __________________________________________________________________ 4
Article 11.
Appeals _____________________________________________________________________ 4
Section 11.1 Appellant Filing ____________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 11.2 Notice____________________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 11.3 Hearings __________________________________________________________________________ 4
Article 12.
Section 12.1 Section 12.2 Section 12.3 Section 12.4 Section 12.5 Section 12.6 Section 12.7 Section 12.8
Article 13.
Section 13.1 Procedures for Primaries _____________________________________________________________ 4 Section 13.2 Encouraging Voters _________________________________________________________________ 4
Article 14.
Section 14.1 Section 14.2 Section 14.3 Section 14.4 Section 14.5 Section 14.6
Article 15.
Section 15.1 Allocation of Delegates ______________________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.2 Filing of Delegates __________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.3 Declaration of Candidate Preference ____________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.4 Certification of Delegates ____________________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.5 Disclosure of Filing _________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.6 Delegate Selection __________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.7 Alternates _________________________________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.8 Succession of Delegates and Alternates__________________________________________________ 4 Section 15.9 Filling Vacancies ____________________________________________________________________ 4
Article 16.
Section 16.1 Section 16.2 Section 16.3 Section 16.4 Section 16.5 Section 16.6 Section 16.7
Article 17.
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Reports ___________________________________________________________________________ 5 Additional Committees ______________________________________________________________ 5 Temporary Rules ___________________________________________________________________ 5 Election of Temporary Committees _____________________________________________________ 5
Article 18.
Article 19.
Section 19.1 Section 19.2 Section 19.3 Section 19.4 Section 19.5
Article 20.
Section 20.1 Section 20.2 Section 20.3 Section 20.4 Section 20.5
The Senate and House of Delegates Majority or Minority Leaders, provided they are Democrats ; the chairs of the Democratic caucuses of the Senate and the House; the president, national committeeman and national committeewoman of the Virginia Young Democrats; the president and first vice-president of the Virginia Democratic Womens Caucus; the chair of the Association of Democratic Chairs; the chair of the Association of Democratic Elected Officials; the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats College Caucus; the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus; the chair of the Virginia Young Democrats County/City Caucus; and Representatives from recognized caucuses identified pursuant to Section 4.19 and constituency group organizations as identified pursuant to Section 4.20. In addition, those members of the General Assembly and those chairs of county and city committees who are elected as provided in Section 6.2 of this Plan will be voting members. All members of the Central Committee shall be members of their respective congressional district committees. Section 4.2 Election of Central Committee The twenty (20) members of the Central Committee from each congressional district shall be nominated in congressional district conventions and shall be elected by the State Convention in each gubernatorial election year, each member to serve a term of four (4) years. Section 4.3 Equal Division The members of the Central and district committees elected pursuant to Section 4.2 shall be equally divided between men and women. However, a district committee may choose to use the authority provided in Section 6.2 to insure that the equal division requirement of this Section is met. Section 4.4: Election of State Party Officers The State Convention held in the year of the gubernatorial election shall elect a State chair, vice-chair for organization, vice-chair for rules, vice-chair for technology and communications, vice-chair for finance, vice-chair for outreach, the secretary and the treasurer, herein the officers of the Central Committee. Each officer shall serve a term of four (4) years. Section 4.5 Election of National Committee Members The State Convention held in the year of a presidential election shall elect the members of the Democratic National Committee allocated to Virginia, each member to serve a term of four (4) years.
The vice-chair for technology and communications shall be responsible for, and shall assist congressional district, county and city committees with, implementation of technologies for identifying and mobilizing voters, maintaining records, and communications within party organizations and to the public. The vice-chair for finance shall be responsible for raising those funds necessary for meeting the annual budget needs of the Party, and, in conjunction with the treasurer, shall work with the finance director to implement a fundraising plan. The vice-chair for finance shall also work with congressional district, county and city committees to assist in their fundraising efforts. The vice-chair for outreach shall serve as chair of the standing outreach committee, as provided in section 4.21, shall work with the congressional district, county and city committees to develop outreach plans and strategies for their jurisdictions, shall be responsible for outreach to the various constituencies of the Democratic Party and shall serve as liaison with statewide organizations supportive of the Democratic Party. The vice-chair for outreach shall also be responsible for overseeing the Partys voter registration activities. All vice chairs may be assigned duties and projects by the State chair. Regular reports of the activities of the vice chairs shall be made to the Steering and Central Committees. Section 4.13 Secretary of Central Committee The secretary shall keep and make available to members the minutes of the Central Committee and Steering Committee meetings and shall formally certify actions and resolutions of the Central Committee. Section 4.14 Treasurer of the Central Committee The treasurer shall safely keep all funds of the committee and shall keep a detailed account of all contributions, other receipts and disbursements. The treasurer shall submit to the members of the Central Committee an oral financial report at each meeting of the Central Committee and an audited report annually. The treasurer shall work with the vicechair for finance to prepare the annual budget and to conduct quarterly budget reviews. The Democratic Party of Virginia fiscal year will run concurrent with the calendar year. The budget for the ensuing fiscal year must be approved by the Steering and Central Committees prior to the start of the fiscal year, that is, January 1. The Executive Director shall provide to the Steering Committee a proposed draft budget seven days in advance of consideration by the Steering Committee. The treasurer shall be the signatory on Federal Election Commission and State Board of Elections required financial reports. Section 4.15 Dues As a part of the annual budget adopted by the Central Committee, dues shall be collected from each county and city committee. Such assessment of dues shall be made by the treasurer of the Central Committee and based on a formula that uses the number of delegates apportioned to each county and city in the most recent State Democratic Convention. Should a state convention not be held in any year, then the treasurer, using the apportionment formula for the most recent such convention, but inserting updated voting statistics, shall prepare an apportionment of delegates for each county and city. Such apportionment shall then be used to determine dues for the current calendar year. Notice of dues shall be forwarded to county and city chairs on or before December 15 of each year. The chair of each county and city shall have the responsibility of insuring that dues are paid in a timely manner between January 1 and March 15 following notice from the Central Committee treasurer. Congressional District Committee Chairs shall assist in the collection of such dues. Section 4.16 Amendments to Party Plan This Party Plan may be amended by an absolute majority of the Central Committee at any time or may be amended by a majority of the Central Committee members present and voting if notice is given and if the proposed amendment is mailed to the membership at least fifteen (15) days before the vote on the amendment. Proposed party plan amendments shall be clearly so designated in the mailing to the State Central Committee. For informational purposes, proposed party plan amendments shall at the same time be mailed to the chairs of the Democratic county and city committees. Section 4.17 Standing Committee on Resolutions The Central Committee shall have a standing committee on resolutions which shall be appointed every four years following the election by the state convention of new Central Committee officers and members. The State chair shall designate the resolutions committee members who shall be elected as outlined herein. The committees membership shall be fifteen (15), including its chair who shall be the vice -chair for rules (or the designee of the State chair and the vice-chair for rules) of the Central Committee as a part of the duties set forth in Section 4.12; eleven (11) members with one (1) elected by each congressional district committee; three (3) at-large members DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA PARTY PLAN 9
nominated by the Central Committee chair, and elected by the Committee, one of whom shall be a county or city chair, and one (1) of whom shall be a Steering Committee member. At-large members shall serve one-year terms. The resolutions committee shall establish rules and procedures that clearly define its operations, including the regular conduct of any needed meetings or hearings to receive information on any subject or resolution. The committees chair shall plan and coordinate its work. Any member of the Central Committee may offer a resolution. All resolutions, except those of strictly memorial or commendatory nature, shall be presented to the committee at least thirty (30) days prior to a scheduled meeting of the Central Committee. Resolutions approved for the Central Committee shall be mailed to all its members at least ten (10) days before such scheduled meeting. The Resolutions Committee shall submit its report, including identification of all resolutions considered, for consideration by the Central Committee. The Resolutions, Central and Steering Committees may approve resolutions by a majority of those members present and voting. Only the Steering Committee may send any resolution to the Central Committee for consideration without prior approval by the Resolutions Committee. Section 4.18 State Central Committee Elections in the Absence of a State Convention In gubernatorial election years in which a State Convention will not be held, the provisions of this Section shall supersede any conflicting provisions in the Party Plan pertaining to the reorganization of the Central Committee. In a gubernatorial election year in which the Democratic Party of Virginia chooses nominees for statewide offices in a primary election, the State Central Committee may decide not to conduct a state convention. Whenever the State Central Committee decides not to conduct such a convention, the twenty (20) members of the State Central Committee representing each congressional district shall be elected in congressional district conventions. The State Central Committee, at its first meeting in the gubernatorial year, shall adopt a method of allocation for delegates to congressional district conventions, as set forth in Section 15.2 of this Plan. The Congressional District Committee shall issue a call to its district convention, as specified in Section 15.2 of this Plan. The notice provisions of Article 9 shall apply. Delegates to a Congressional District Convention may be elected at caucuses held within a jurisdiction that is part of the Congressional District or immediately prior to the Congressional District Convention at the same location as the Congressional District Convention. Each caucus electing delegates to a congressional district convention shall certify the roll of delegates so elected to the Chair of the Congressional District Committee in the manner provided in Section 15.4. The newly elected congressional district committees shall meet to elect officers and additional members (as provided in Section 6.2) prior to the first meeting of the newly elected State Central Committee. The newly elected State Central Committee shall meet within sixty (60) days after the primary election to elect the Party officers enumerated in section 4.4 of the Plan. Section 4.19 Central Committee Caucuses Members of the Central Committee may form caucuses within the Central Committee. Such caucuses may provide an organizational focus for members of a constituency group who are members of the Central Committee; present issues and act as an advocate for members of the group within the Virginia Democratic Party; provide contacts to members of the public who are not yet active in party affairs; assist in the Democratic Partys commitment to outreach to members of the group and encourage them to participate in party affairs at the local, state and national levels; assist in the Democratic Partys commitment to encourage persons who are members of the group to register to vote and become informed about public issues; assist in the Democratic Partys efforts to energize and mobilize members of the group to vote for and support Democratic candidates; encourage the development of group members who may be candidates for public office; raise money to be used for outreach, party building and election activities; and provide a state contact for the Democratic National Committee and other national and state organizations. Members of the Central Committee may organize recognized caucuses that shall: (1) be comprised of members of the Central Committee; (2) represent a minimum of three percent of the Central Committee general membership, with members from at least four Congressional Districts; (3) represent an identifiable constituency of the Democratic Party; (4) adopt bylaws that are consistent with the party plan, and that shall include (a) a statement of the purpose of the caucus, (b) membership qualifications that include an affirmative act by the Central Committee member to join the caucus, and (c) procedure for the regular election of officers; and (5) be approved by a majority present and voting at a Central Committee meeting. Notice of such vote shall be mailed to Central Committee members 10 days prior to the meeting. Caucuses who do not have a representative on the Steering Committee pursuant to Section 5.1 shall have one 10 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA PARTY PLAN
representative on the Central Committee. Section 4.20 Constituency Group Organizations Virginia Democrats may organize constituency group organizations that may be entitled to one representative as a member of the Central Committee. To be a recognized constituency group organization, the organization shall meet the following criteria: (1) the members of the organization must be Democrats (2) the members of the organization must share an inherent and/or immutable traits, not a concern about an issue or a cause; (3) the organization must represent a significant constituency that is not represented or has been historically underrepresented on the Central Committee; (4) the organization must submit its current bylaws, membership list, and officers list to the Democratic Party of Virginia; (5) the organization must maintain an action plan for mobilizing its constituency for elections, which must include evidence of recent past activity in Democratic organizations or campaigns; (6) the organization must provide to the Democratic Party of Virginia a list of current outreach events, organizations, and events within Virginia related to its constituency; and (7) the organizations membership must include residents of at least four Co ngressional Districts, and at least 15 members who are also members of any local Democratic committee from across the state. To qualify for representation on the Central Committee, each constituency group organization must be approved by a majority of the Central Committee members present and voting. Notice of such vote shall be mailed to Central Committee members 10 days prior to the meeting. Each constituency group organization must be reviewed every two years to determine if it remains a viable organization. Each constituency group organization must re-apply for recognition by January 31 of each even numbered year, and will be reviewed for approval within six months. The Outreach Committee shall review the constituency group organizations applications, subject to final review by the Central Committee. The Virginia Young Democrats, the Association of Democratic Chairs and the Association of Elected Democratic Officials shall submit to the Democratic Party of Virginia their current bylaws, membership list, and officers list, and an action plan by June 31 of each even numbered year. Section 4.21 Outreach Committee The Central Committee shall have a standing committee on outreach, which shall be appointed every four years following the election by the state convention of new Central Committee officers and members. The committee's membership shall be comprised of the following: Its chair who shall be the vice-chair for outreach; eleven members with one elected by each congressional district committee; five at-large members nominated by the Central Committee chair, and elected by the Central Committee, one of whom shall be a county or city chair; and one member designated by each officially recognized caucus and constituency group organization of the Democratic Party of Virginia. At-large, caucus and constituency group representative members shall serve one-year terms. The Outreach Committees duties including the following: (1) Develop and implement an outreach plan for the Democratic Party. After each Central Committee election, the committee shall review and update the plan after consultation with candidates and local committees. (2) Receive and act on all applications by constituency groups for official recognition by the Democratic Party, and shall present its recommendation for approval or denial to the Central Committee. (3) Perform any other outreach activities designated by the Committee. The Outreach Committee shall establish rules and procedures that clearly define its operations, including the regular conduct of any needed meetings or hearings to receive information on any subject. The committee's chair shall plan and coordinate its work and seek to insure that any Democratic Party member has opportunity to present information or comments.
Vice-chair for technology and communications ; Vice-chair for finance; Vice-chair for outreach; Secretary; Treasurer; Immediate past chair of the State Central Committee; The Virginia members of the Democratic National Committee elected by the State Convention, and any other member of the National Committee or Executive Committee elected under the National Charter and rules who resides and is a registered voter in Virginia and so requests in writing to the State Party Chair; The Congressional District chairs; The President of the Virginia Young Democrats; The President of the Virginia Democratic Womens Caucus; The chair of the Association of Democratic Chairs; A representative of the Democratic Black Caucus; A representative of the Democratic Latino Organization of Virginia Caucus; A representative of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus; A representative of the Veterans and Military Families Caucus; A representative of the Democratic Labor Caucus of the Central Committee; A representative of the DisAbility Caucus; and a A representative of the Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia Caucus.
The officers of the Central Committee shall be the officers of the Steering Committee. All members of the Steering Committee shall be members of the Central Committee and members of their respective district committees. Section 5.2 Duties of Steering Committee The Steering Committee shall have entire charge and full control of all party matters arising throughout the Commonwealth between meetings of the Central Committee. All powers that inhere in the Central Committee shall be vested in the Steering Committee at such times as the Central Committee is not in session and its actions shall be final unless overruled by the Central Committee or a Democratic Convention, with the following exceptions: 1. the Steering Committee may not amend the Party Plan, 2. the Steering Committee may not change the assessments upon county or city committees, 3. the Steering Committee may not determine the method of nominating Democratic candidates for any public office, except in cases when the nominated candidate dies, withdraws, refuses candidacy or if the nomination is set aside for any reason, 4. the Steering Committee may pass resolutions by a two-thirds majority of all of its members, 5. when vacancies occur among the elected officers of the State Party, the chair may recommend and the Steering Committee may elect Acting officers; the Central Committee shall be convened within 120 days of the occurrence of a vacancy to elect permanent replacements unless a state convention occurs within that period, and 6. the Steering Committee may not fill vacancies to the Democratic National Committee. Notices of Steering Committee meetings, including specific agenda, shall be mailed to all members of the State Central Committee at least ten (10) days prior to all Steering Committee meetings, except in cases of emergency when the Steering Committee has to be notified by telephone. When a meeting of the Steering Committee is not followed within eight (8) days by a meeting of the Central Committee, the minutes of Steering Committee meeting, including details of all actions taken, but not necessarily of the discussions, shall be mailed to all Central Committee members within thirty (30) days after the Steering Committee meeting. At each State Central Committee meeting, the actions taken by the Steering Committee since the previous Central Committee meeting shall be reported, questions shall be taken about any such actions, and the chair shall ask if there are any motions to alter or overrule any action taken by the Steering Committee. Section 5.3 Steering Committee Meetings Meetings of the Steering Committee may be called as follows: a) By the State chair b) By any five (5) members of the Steering Committee if the signed call is filed with the secretary of the Steering Committee at least ten (10) days before the proposed meeting date; or 12 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA PARTY PLAN
c) By a vote of the Steering Committee at a properly convened meeting of the Committee. All meetings shall be open unless the Steering Committee specifically votes otherwise. A majority of the members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum. Section 5.4 Designation of Substitutes If the chair of a district committee cannot attend a meeting of the Steering Committee, he or she may designate another member of the district committee to attend the meeting in his or her place. The district chair shall inform the chair of the Central Committee of the designation. Such designees shall be counted in determining a quorum and shall be a full voting member of the Steering Committee for that meeting. Section 5.5 Appeals The Steering Committee shall constitute an appeals committee for appeals provided in this plan from constitutional officer committees, legislative district committees, senatorial district committees and congressional district committees. The decision of the Steering Committee acting as an appeals committee shall be final unless overruled by the Central Committee or a Democratic State Convention. Appeal procedure shall be as provided in Article 11. Section 5.6 Complaints The Steering Committee shall receive and investigate complaints relating to alleged discrimination in party affairs on the grounds of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, or disability. Any Democrat aggrieved by such alleged discrimination may file a complaint with the secretary of the Steering Committee. Upon filing of a complaint, the State chair shall appoint a subcommittee of the Steering Committee to review the complaint. If the subcommittee determines that there is a reasonable basis for the complaint, it shall immediately begin an investigation of the complaint in accordance with Article 11. The subcommittee shall complete its investigation and file a written report within thirty (30) days of the filing of the complaint. Within (30) days of receiving the subcommittee report, the Steering Committee shall act on the complaint and provide such remedies, as it deems appropriate. Section 5.7 Executive Committee The Central Committee or the Steering Committee may by resolution or bylaw establish an Executive Committee to be composed of the chair and such other persons as the resolution or bylaw may direct, in any event, the Executive Committee to be composed of not more than seven (7) persons, a majority of whom shall be district chairs. The Executive Committee shall exercise such powers as may be allocated to it from time to time by resolution or bylaw and may exercise all the powers of the Steering Committee between meetings of the Steering Committee with its actions to be final unless overruled by the Steering Committee or the Central Committee. The resolution or bylaw shall set forth the method of selection of members of the Executive Committee, which method shall provide for reasonable geographical balance among the members who are district chairs. Section 5.8 Steering Committee Caucus Representation The Central Committee may amend the Party Plan (pursuant to Section 4.16) to add a representative to the Steering Committee of a Caucus recognized under Section 4.19 that reflects inherent and/or immutable traits. In evaluating whether to provide representation to such a Caucus, the Central Committee may consider the following criteria: The caucus represents a constituency which constitutes a significant part of Virginias population; the constituency has a proven record of supporting Democrats; the constituency is historically underrepresented in the party structure; the caucus is a longstanding group with a proven record of working hard to elect Democrats and build the Party; and the Caucus is represented on the DNC Executive Committee. If a Caucus with Steering Committee representation fails to maintain its status as a Caucus (under Section 4.19), its representative shall no longer be considered a voting member of the Steering Committee.
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convention, consistent with the requirements of Article 15, Section 15.1. Section 6.9 Oversight Duties By January 15 of every even numbered year, each district committee shall ascertain that all Democratic county and city committees within its jurisdiction have reorganized as required in Section 8.1. If a county or city committee has not properly reorganized, the district committee shall immediately cause an election to be held in each non-complying county or city to select a new committee and to have officers elected in the manner provided in this Plan. Section 6.10 New County and City Committee Elections When a county or city committee fails to carry out its duties as specified in the Party Plan, the district committee acting upon an appeal of any member of the county or city committee or of any ten (10) Democratic voters of the county or city may cause an election of a new county or city committee to be held; provided, however, no such election shall be held without an opportunity for a hearing by the Steering Committee or any appeal under Article 11 from the action of the district committee. Section 6.11 Supervisory Authority Whenever a district committee orders the election of a county or city committee pursuant to the provisions of the Party Plan the district committee shall be charged with the authority and responsibility for supervising such election as provided in the Party Plan. Section 6.12 Appeals Any member of a district committee may appeal any decision, deadlock, or the failure of the district committee to act, to the Steering Committee. Section 6.13 District Committees and Reapportionment Whenever redistricting occurs or on January 1 of the year following any reapportionment of the congressional districts, and until the next Democratic State Convention at which a new Central Committee is elected, all members of the Central Committee shall become members of the district committee for the congressional district in which they reside. Where, as a result of such reapportionment, a district committee contains more resident members than the specified number to which it is entitled, each such members vote on the Central Committee shall be the fraction that is obtained by dividing the specified number by the numbers of members of the new district committee. Where, as a result of such reapportionment, fewer than the specified number of the Central Committee reside in a congressional district, the difference in number specified shall be deemed vacancies on the Central Committee and shall be filled as provided for in the Party Plan. Section 6.14 Special Elections - House of Representatives Whenever a special election is called to fill a vacancy in the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Central Committee residing in the congressional district as defined for purposes of that election shall be deemed the district committee for that election.
ARTICLE 7. DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISTRICT NOMINATING COMMITTEES
Section 7.1 Definition of Committees For the purpose of prescribing the method of nominating candidates, there shall be Constitutional Officer and General Assembly (House of Delegates and State Senate) District Nominating Committees (herein the nominating committee) for every such election district in the Commonwealth, provided, however, when such district lies wholly within the boundaries of one county or city, the county or city committee shall exercise all authority relating to the method of nomination. Section 7.2 Nominating Process Nominations shall be made by primary, convention or caucus. Whenever any nominating committee determines that such nominations shall be by primary, then such primary shall be held in conformity with this Plan and applicable Virginia election laws. Whenever such nominations are to be made by convention, the appropriate nominating committee shall fix the basis of representation for such convention. The nominating committee shall advise State headquarters in writing of the method of nomination for any office within seven (7) days of the decision.
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procedure for considering such appeal. The district committees may jointly hear the appeal, establish a subcommittee composed of equal members from each committee to conduct a hearing and make recommendations to the full committees, or designate one district committee to hear the appeal. The district committee(s) may sustain the election of the county or city committee, or order a new election in which case said election shall be held under the direction of the district committees. The decision of the district committee(s) may be appealed to the Steering Committee. Any person aggrieved by any decision, action or failure to act by a county or city committee may appeal to the district committee for the congressional district in which the county or city is situated, disposition of such appeal shall follow the procedure outlined in the previous paragraph when the county or city is divided between two or more districts. The decision of the congressional district committee(s) may be appealed to the Steering Committee. Section 8.6 Officers Following the election of its members as provided herein, each new county or city committee shall elect a chair, secretary, treasurer, and such other officers as it deems necessary no later than the second Wednesday in January. The date, time and place of the meeting where the election of officers will occur shall be made known to committee members in advance following the notice requirements in Section 9.5. Should the meeting take place immediately following adjournment of the caucus to elect committee members, or within 7 days thereafter, notice of the meeting shall be included in the public advertisement for the caucus. The secretary shall submit to State Party headquarters within five (5) days of his or her election the names, addresses, emails and telephone numbers of the officers and members of the committee. The secretary shall submit a list of any changes to the committee list every 6 months thereafter until the next committee election. Section 8.7 Bylaws Each county or city committee shall have a set of bylaws available for its membership upon request. Such bylaws shall be submitted to State Party headquarters for review as to form and consistency with this Plan. It shall be the responsibility of the county or city committee chair to submit such bylaws to State Headquarters within ninety (90) days of his or her election as chair. Section 8.8 Responsibilities It shall be the duty of every county and city committee, as well as each officer and member thereof, to seek the registration of voters, to perfect the Democratic organization within the county or city, and to do all within their power to aid in the victory of the Democratic Partys nominees in all elections. Committee members should know and understand their responsibility under Section 10.8 and the exception stated in Section 10.9. Section 8.9 Removal A county or city committee may remove from both office and membership any person found guilty of neglect of any duty imposed upon him or her. Such action shall not be taken without at least ten (10) days written notice to the accused member and an opportunity for him or her to refute such charges in a hearing before a subcommittee of the county or city committee. The decision of the county or city committee may be appealed to the district committee. Section 8.10 Vacancies Each county and city committee shall fill any vacancy occurring in its membership. Section 8.11 Meetings All meetings of the county or city committee shall be open to the public. Such meetings may be called as follows: a) upon call of the chair of the committee; or b) by at least ten percent (10%) of the members of the county or city committee if the signed call is filed with the chair at least fifteen (15) days before the proposed meeting date; or c) by a vote of the county or city committee at a properly convened meeting of the committee. Section 8.12 Nomination Each county or city committee shall prescribe the methods to be used within such county or city to nominate candidates for county, city and local offices, and to elect members of said committee and delegates and alternates to party conventions. Such nominations and elections shall be made by primary, convention or caucus. Except, when an incumbent candidate for an office in a city or county was nominated by a primary, a primary shall be held for that office unless all incumbents of that party for that office consents to a different method. Whenever a county or city committee determines that such nominations of elections shall be by primary, the primary shall be held in conformity with this Plan and applicable DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA PARTY PLAN
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Virginia election laws. Section 8.13 Nomination Conventions In the election of delegates and alternates to any county, city, district or state convention, it shall be the duty of the county or city committee to prescribe whether such election shall be by precinct, magisterial or equivalent district, ward, county or city caucus or convention. The county or city committees shall also determine the number of delegates and alternates to which each precinct, magisterial or equivalent district, or ward shall be entitled pursuant to the Call to Convention and Delegate Selection Plan issued for said Convention. Section 8.14 Dues Every county and city committee shall be responsible for paying to the treasurer of the Central Committee in a timely manner the annual dues provided for under Section 4.15 under this Plan. Congressional District Chairs shall assist in the collection of such dues. Section 8.15 Ex-Officio Members Each member of the Central Committee shall, upon election, become a voting ex-officio member of the Democratic committee of the county or city in which he or she resides. Such members shall pay any required filing or membership fees unless waived by the county or city committee. Section 8.16 Combination of County and City Committees Any county or city committee may be joined with any contiguous county or city committee and operated jointly under the following conditions and the following procedures: a) Each committee to be joined must vote for the combination by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting; or b) The proposed combination must be ratified by a two-thirds vote in a duly announced caucus to be held in each of the counties or cities to be combined; and c) The county or city desiring to combine must present to the Steering Committee a petition requesting approval of the combination. If the required two-thirds majority is obtained in each of the committees to be combined or in each of the caucuses for the counties or cities to be combined, upon approval by the State Steering Committee, the functions of such county and city committees shall be combined in one joint committee. However, the combination of committee functions shall not include the nominating process for candidates for city, county, and local offices. For such nominations, only the representatives of the counties or cities served by the office in question shall participate in setting the method of nomination or in nominating such candidates. Upon the petition of any ten (10) Democrats from any county or city served by a combined committee, the Steering Committee, after consideration, may dissolve the combined committee and order separate reorganization of the committees.
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The Democratic Party of Virginia, and any of its components, including county and city Democratic committees, Congressional district committees, the State Central Committee, the State Steering Committee, State Party caucuses, and State Party constituency groups, may not formally endorse contested candidates for office prior to their nominations
b) c) d) e)
The points on which the appeal is based; The individual(s) for whom the appeal is taken; What provisions of the Party Plan have been violated or disregarded; and What relief, correction or other action is sought by the appellant.
Section 11.2 Notice The chair of the appellant committee shall determine to whom notice of the appeal and copies of the petition shall be furnished by the appellant. At least ten (10) days written notice shall be given to all persons affected by such appeal. Section 11.3 Hearings The persons thus notified shall answer the petition within a reasonable time, to be fixed by the chair of the appellant committee. The chair of the appellant committee shall fix a time and place for a hearing within at least ten (10) days written notice on said appeal, at which time the appellant committee shall determine the validity of the appeal, either upon the petition and answer, or after the taking of evidence as in its discretion it may see fit. Appellants and other interested parties may be represented by counsel in the appellant process.
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method of nomination shall determine the manner by which a new candidate shall be nominated. Section 12.8 Unopposed Nominees If the number of persons qualifying as candidates in a primary, convention or caucus does not exceed the number of nominations to be made for a particular office, then the qualified candidate or candidates may be declared the nominees of the Democratic Party.
Section 14.3 Selection of Delegates Delegates to any Democratic convention shall be elected at a convention or caucus called by the county or city committee. If a county or city committee decides to hold a convention for election of delegates to a state convention, then the delegates to the county or city convention shall be elected at caucuses within the county or city. In addition, the committee calling any convention may designate as ex-officio delegates Democrats holding elective office in that county or city provided such ex-officio delegates will not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of delegates to the convention. Section 14.4 Fees No fee of any kind may be charged for the right to attend and vote at a caucus. A voluntary administrative fee may be requested for participation in any convention. However, no party member shall be excluded from participation in a convention because of not paying a fee. Any Democrat who desires to participate in a convention but who chooses not to pay the requested fee shall be permitted to participate.
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c) The provision(s) of the Party Plan, Call to Caucus or Convention, Delegate Selection Plan, or rules being relied upon as the basis for such challenge; and d) The specific relief requested with respect to the challenge, including the exact number of delegates or alternates to be awarded and, unless a new caucus or convention is requested, their identities. Section 16.4 Powers of Temporary Credentials Committee If the temporary credentials committee sustains a challenge to a delegate or alternate, the committee may take any of the following actions: a) Include the challenged delegate or alternate on the temporary roll; b) Strike the challenged delegate or alternate from the temporary roll; c) Recommend that the committee calling the convention order a new election with respect to the challenged delegate or alternate position; d) Substitute the name of another candidate in the position of delegate or alternate on the temporary roll; or e) Such other action not inconsistent with this Plan as the committee determines to be appropriate. Section 16.5 New Caucuses or Conventions Upon the recommendation of the temporary credentials committee, the Steering Committee or any other committee calling a convention may order a new convention or caucus for election of delegates or alternates to replace challenged delegates or alternates. Section 16.6 Temporary Roll The secretary of the committee calling a convention shall make a temporary roll of the convention including names certified to the secretary as amended by the temporary credentials committee of the convention. Section 16.7 Report of the Temporary Credentials Committee For state conventions the temporary credentials committee shall report to the temporary credentials committees of congressional district conventions affecting any challenges for their conventions, and to the permanent committee of the state convention. Any minority report of the committee must be supported by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its members present.
The report of the committee shall be distributed to all delegates when they register for the convention and shall be presented to the convention at the time specified in the agenda by the convention rules committee which shall be no later than 2 p.m. on the second day of any convention. The rules committee shall prescribe the procedure for consideration of the report on the convention floor, including the consideration of any minority reports. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan, the temporary resolutions committee shall also serve as the permanent resolutions committee of any state convention, (regardless) of whether its members are convention delegates. Adoption of resolutions by the convention shall require a sixty percent (60%) vote of the delegates present and voting, a quorum being present. Section 17.3 Additional Committees If temporary committees other than the credentials, rules and resolutions committees are established, such committees shall report to any corresponding permanent committees of the convention, or to the Steering Committee for state conventions. Section 17.4 Temporary Rules The temporary rules committee shall meet and issue its report as soon as possible after the issuance of the Call to Convention. The temporary rules adopted pursuant to this section shall govern conduct of the convention until adoption of permanent rules by the convention. Matters not addressed by temporary or permanent rules of a convention shall be governed by the most recent edition of Roberts Rules of Order. Section 17.5 Election of Temporary Committees For state conventions, the temporary committees, other than resolutions, shall be elected as follows: each district committee shall elect one member, and the Central Committee shall elect five members. For the temporary resolutions committee, each district committee shall elect one member, five members shall be elected by the Central Committee, and six members shall be appointed by the chair of the Central Committee. The chair shall appoint the chairs of the temporary credentials and rules committees from among their members and shall appoint the chair of the temporary resolutions committee, from among its members, who shall serve as chair of both the temporary and permanent committees.
All such persons present at the caucus at the time stated in the notice are entitled to participate in the caucus if they sign the required certification. The permanent chair of the caucus shall not be elected until all persons entitled to participate have had a reasonable opportunity to complete their written certification. Section 18.4 Temporary Rules for Caucuses The chair of the committee calling the caucus shall prepare the temporary rules of the caucus. The temporary rules of the caucus shall be available at least one (1) week before the caucus for inspection and copying by any interested Democrat. The temporary rules shall govern the caucus until adoption of permanent rules, which shall be the first order of business following the election of the permanent chair and appointment of the permanent secretary. The foregoing applies to assembled caucuses. If a committee decides to use an unassembled caucus, it shall provide in its call to convention for 26 DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA PARTY PLAN
establishment of permanent committees on credentials, rules, and other such committees as may be required.
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